Are ABA Therapy and PTSD Linked?

April 28, 2018

Having a child with autism can be extremely difficult when you’re a parent or caregiver navigating the, sometimes new world, of parenting — you really just want the chance and ability to love and nurture your child the best way you know how. There is much controversy around topics of autism — how it’s caused, the best way to treat it, to can it be cured? As a parent or caregiver, trying to not make a misstep in the autism community can be debilitating, because like anyone, you just want to do a good job in the role you’ve stepped into.

At Pinnacle Autism Therapy, we provide children with autism the chance to flourish through applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. ABA therapy complements your child in all their environments, from school to home life to practical real-world situations such as the grocery store and movie theater. We’re dedicated to your child in an encouraging atmosphere of individualized care with skilled and compassionate practitioners. If you’re curious about ABA therapy and have heard the controversy surrounding it, take a moment today and read about the truth and refuge the therapy provides in children with autism.

What is Being Said About ABA Therapy?

There are critics that plainly state that ABA therapy draws a muddled line between intervention and abuse. With stories being told of practitioners withholding food from children until they’re hungry enough to comply with the desired behavior, and others that walk the line of what is acceptable for treating a neurological issue with a set of learned behaviors. Their belief lies in the idea that you can’t teach a child with autism to perform certain behaviors or modify their behavior because this simply isn’t the way they are naturally inclined to act. Examples that are used might be something similar to, imagining yourself trying to scratch an itch, only to be told the behavior is unacceptable and it must be adapted. Being unable to live as their true selves and being forced into a foreign behavior, they believe, is traumatic and may lead to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) later in life resulting in further treatment.

Another argument made in opposition to ABA therapy is that it’s simply just not a therapy, but rather a full-time job for the parent or caregivers. It also makes the conclusion that they experience an increased amount of stress watching their child go through such intense therapy.

The Actuality of ABA Therapy

ABA therapy is, no doubt, extremely intensive, but when it’s done correctly the results are life-changing. At our facility, ABA therapy is less about a rigorous program and more about a philosophy and a way to navigate autism. Certified support is also offered and available through the phases of the therapy in addition to our practitioners being extensively trained in evidence-based treatments for autism. The therapy is administered in a natural setting to simplify the skills being learned. ABA therapy needs to be conducted in school or program using the most current research on a highly-individualized atmosphere — needless to say where and who your child is seeing for ABA therapy makes a complete difference.
ABA therapy isn’t traumatizing, it’s all about creating a routine and consistency in your child’s life to help them better understand themselves and recognize what they need.

We’ve explored the critiques of ABA therapy and touched briefly on how Pinnacle Autism Therapy is different. Having a child with autism makes navigating everyday life even more difficult because you have someone who has social and emotional delays, and figuring out the right course of action can be paralyzing. There is light and refuge in ABA therapy.

Stay tuned for part two as we dive further into the case for ABA therapy.